Douglas Ross MP resigns: SNP, Labour and Scottish Tories react

But his shock resignation today amid the ongoing row over Dominic Cummings’ conduct has prompted a variety of reactions from politicians across Scotland.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Ross said: "I have constituents who didn't get to say goodbye to loved ones; families who could not mourn together; people who didn't visit sick relatives because they followed the guidance of the Government.

"I cannot in good faith tell them they were all wrong and one senior adviser to the Government was right.”

When news of his resignation became public, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Jackson Carlaw, tweeted that Mr Ross was: “Great loss to the Scotland Office and UK Government, sorry to see him go but entirely respect and understand his decision.

“I know he will continue to be an excellent MP for Moray as we all seek to tackle this health crisis.”

It comes after Mr Carlaw refused to comment on whether the Prime Minister’s top aide should resign after breaking lockdown rules to visit his parents’ farm in Durham.

Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard, quoted Mr Ross’s resignation letter in a tweet directed at Mr Carlaw and Scottish secretary Alister Jack.

He wrote: “I cannot in all faith tell them that they were wrong and one senior advisor to the government was right." Hand on heart, can @Jackson_Carlaw and @ScotSecofState Alister Jack say otherwise?”

THe SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said “I respect Douglas Ross” for taking a “difficult decision” on an issue that “transcends politics”.

“It is about protecting trust and confidence in the public health advice.”

Echoing his previous call for Mr Cummings to be sacked, Mr Blackford said: “The Prime Minister must remove Dominic Cummings from his post without further delay.”

Stewart McDonald, MP for Glasgow South, speculated on which of Mr Ross’s Conservative colleagues would take up his ministerial vacancy at the Scotland Office, tweeting: “So which Scottish Tory MP actually accepts the offer to replace Douglas Ross whilst Cummings remains in post?

“It’d be a new low to do so,” he added.

Tory MSP for Glasgow, Adam Tomkins, called Mr Ross’s resignation “a disaster”, describing him as “one of the clearest voices for the Union in Government.

“It shows exactly why Cummings should be sacked. I suspect others will follow where Douglas has led.”

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director